Support assemblies for mineral mines

ABSTRACT

A support assembly for mineral mines having three frames each having a resilient floor rail a roof bar and several telescopic props therebetween. The frames are interconnected by two shifting units which effect successive advancement of the central frame in relation to the outer frames and vice versa. The shifting units are linked by resilient transverse elements and the central frame is so mounted on one of the elements that when desired it can pivot in relation to the outer frames either inherently in operation or under the action of separate adjusting units.

United States. Patent [72} Inventor Heinrich Behr Altlunen, Germany {21] Appl. No; 822,586 [22] 7 Filed May 7,1969 [45] Patented Dec. 21, I971 [73] Assignee Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia Bei Lunen, Westfalia, Germany [32] Priority Oct. 12, 1968 [33] Germany [31] P18028863 [54] SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES FOR MINERAL MINES 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] U.S.Cl 61/45D [51] Int.Cl E21d 15/44 [50] Field of Search 61/45; 248/357; 299/33; 91/170 MP [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,377 2/1965 Hoffmann 61/45 3,371,901 3/1968 Groetschel 3,425,229 2/1969 Groetschel 248/357 X 3,435,620 4/1969 Weirich et al. 61/45 3,448,584 6/1969 Rieschel 61/45 Primary Examiner Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn and Macpeak ABSTRACT: A support assembly for mineral mines having three frames each having a resilient floor rail a roof bar and several telescopic props therebetween.

The frames are interconnected bytwo shifting units which effect successive advancement of the central frame in relation to the outer frames and vice versa. The shifting units are linked by resilient transverse elements and the central frame is so mounted'on one of the elements that when desired it can pivot in relation to the outer frames either inherently in operation or under the action ofseparate adjusting units.

SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES F OR MINERAL MINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Support assemblies for mineral mines generally comprise a number of parallel frames each having a roof bar, a floor rail and a number of telescopic props arranged therebetween.

Support assemblies are known in which the frames are interconnected by means of a shifting device in such a way that the frames can be shifted in successive steps. In these assemblies the lower floor rails of the frames are generally resilient and the shifting device is connected to the rails through plates, which can also be resilient. In this fashion the frames and thus the assembly as a whole is adaptable as far as possible to any unevenness in the floor of the mine working.

In the case of assemblies with three frames the outer two frames can be interconnected in an angularly rigid manner, with the aid of traverse elements which may also be resilient so as to enable the central frame to be moveable to a limited extent in the direction of shifting in relation to the two outer frames.

As assembly is also known in which additional piston and cylinder units are intercalated between the frames in order to adjust the distance between the frames and alter their relative angular positions. The main purpose of the adjusting units is to keep the frames in their correct position in the event of any appreciable dip in the mine working. In one known construction the resilient floor rails of the frames are interconnected with the shifting device so that the floor rails exert a restoring force when the frames are being adjusted in position. AS these floor rails are usually constructed as laminated springs or similar sets of springs they can perform the aforementioned function without permanent deformation. For comparatively lightweight support assemblies, however, used where operating conditions are not too vigorous, one single leaf spring can be used as the floor rail.

As the force of the shifting device is conducted to the floor rails as a torsional force this process can in contrast to the ad justing'forces involve permanent deformation since the shifting forces are so much greater than the elastic deformation forces of the floor rails. In underground mine workings it has been found that the usual process of aligning the frames by means of adjusting units is not always satisfactory since part of the adjusting force is nullified by the friction occurring between the leaf springs forming the floor rails.

An object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the known assemblies and provide an improved assembly of simple construction.

More specifically a further object of the invention is to provide a three-frame support assembly wherein the central frame can be adjusted independently of the outer frames and without transferring adjusting forces to the floor rails of the outer frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a support assembly for mineral mines comprising a. three support frames arranged parallel to one another, each frame being composed of a lower floor rail, an upper roof bar, and a number of telescopic props arranged between said floor rail and said roof bar,

b. shifting means interconnecting said frames and adapted to effect relative displacement between the central frame on the one hand and the tow outer frames on the other hand,

c. means pivotably mounting said central frame to enable said central frame to pivot about an axis extending parallel to said props in relation to the two outer frames and j d. means for securing the central frame and preventing said pivotal movement thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention provides a support assembly comprising a. three support frames arranged parallel to one another, each frame being composed of a roof bar, a resilient floor rail and a number of telescopic props arranged between the roof bar and the floor rail,

b. two hydraulic piston and cylinder shifting units having one of its relatively displaceable parts connected to the central frame and the other of its relatively displaceable parts connected to one of the outer frames so as to be capable of effecting relative displacement between the central frame and the outer frames,

c. two resilient transverse elements connected between the cylinders of the shifting units,

d. a pivot pin extending between the floor rail of said central frame and one of said transverse elements to allow pivotal movement of said central frame relative to the outer frames,

e. one or more piston and cylinder units arranged to effect said pivotal movement of the central frame and f. a locking pin insertable between the central frame and the other of said transverse element to prevent said pivotal movement of the central frame.

The central frame is preferably also displaceable to a limited extent in a direction transversally to the direction of relative shifting displacement of the frames.

The pivotable movement of the central frame can be accomplished by the provision of a simple pin joint. To render the central frame displaceable transversally on the shifting direction the joint can be so constructed that the pin is displaceable relative to the longitudinal axis of the associated transverse element. This can be achieved by mounting the pin in a guide slot in the transverse element.

According to a further feature of the invention the central frame is adapted to be coupled to both said elements, the means for pivotably mounting said central frame acting at one of the coupling points and the means for preventing said pivotal movement acting at the other of said coupling points.

In a constructional embodiment of the invention the central frame can pivot on a pivot pin relative to the outer frames and according to the particular operating conditions encountered. In straightforward conditions a locking pin can be inserted to prevent the pivotal movement of the central frame.

Where difficulties arise the locking pin can be removed to render the assembly more adaptable but it is significant that this is achieved without conducting torsional or flexural forces to the floor rails of the outer frames as was hitherto the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS of a support assembly made in accordance with the invention having its upper roof structure removed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the assembly has three support frames I, II and Ill arranged parallel to one another. Each Frame I,-Il, III is provided with two hydraulically operated telescopic props I and 2, the lower ends of which rest on base plates 3 interconnected by meansof resilient floor raiEs 4 which may be composed of one or more leaf springs. At their upper ends the two hydraulic props l, 2 of each frame I, II, III are interconnected in the known manner by a single or two-part roof bar.

At the lower parts of the two outer frames I and III resilient plates 5 are provided. The foremost plates 5 are attached to the piston rods 6 of two hydraulic shifting units 6, 7 and in a corresponding manner the rearmost plates 5 are attached to the piston rods 6 of the shifting units 6, 7. The shifting units 6, 7 operate in known manner to advance the central frame II relative to the outer frames I, III and vice versa in the direction of arrow R.

The two shifting units 6, 7 are, in turn, interconnected through their cylinders 7 via transverse elements 8 and 8', which are preferably also resilient and can be in the form of leaf springs.

The central frame [I is coupled to the element 8, in such a way that the frame II can be pivoted to a certain extent in the horizontal direction as shown by the arrow S. In particular the frame II is coupled to the element 8 by means of an upright pin 9 carried by a bore in the lower flo'or rail 4 of the frame II and engaging in transversely extending slot 13 provided in the element 8. The provision of the slot 13 is not absolutely essential and instead of a slot the element 8 could be provided with a circular aperture to receive the pin 9.

In order to secure the frames in a desired position, such as the parallel position shown in the drawing a means is provided to secure the pivotal position of the central frame II. To this end a pair of aligned bores 10 are provided at the center of the element 8 and the rear base plate 3 of the central frame ll. A pin 10' is insertable into the bores l in order to secure the central frame ll in relation to the outer frames l and III.

In order, for example, to impart some inherent mobility to the assembly the pin 10' is withdrawn from the bores 10 so that the central frame II can pivot freely about the pin 9 and thus largely adapt itself to the conditions prevailing. On the other hand, it is also possible for the pin 9 on transverse element 8 to be detachable so that the central frame ll can pivot about the pin 10'.

The bore in the element 8' for receiving the pin 10' can also be provided with a series of alternative holes for receiving the pin 10.

To enable the central frame 11 to be forcibly pivoted in the direction shown by the arrow S, hydraulic piston and cylinder units ll, 12 are provided. The unit 11 is connected between the plate of the outer frame IlI attached to the piston 6 of the associated shifting unit 6, 7 and one base plate 3 of the central frame ll. The unit 12 is connected between the cylinder 7 of the associated shifting unit 6, 7 and the lower floor rail 4 of the central frame ll. The provision of the slot 13 allows the central frame ll, to undergo a limited displacement in a direction transversely of the shifting direction R upon operation of the adjusting units 11, 12.

I claim:

I. A mine support assembly comprising:

a. three separate support frames arranged parallel to one another, each frame being composed of a roof bar, a resilient floor rail and a number of telescopic props arranged between the roof bar and the floor rail;

b. two hydraulic piston and cylinder shifting units for effecting relative displacement between the frames, each unit having a cylinder connected to the central frame and a piston rod extending outwardly from each end of the cylinder;

c. resilient plates connected between the ends of the'piston rods and the outer frames;

d. two resilient transverse elements connected between the cylinders of the shifting units to form a constructional unit therewith;

e. pivoting means operatively disposed between the floor rail of said central frame and one of said transverse elements to allow pivotal movement between the central frame and the outer frames;

f. at least one hydraulic means arranged to effect said pivotal movement of the centralframe; and

g. detachable locking means insertable between the central frame and the other of said transverse elements to prevent said pivotal movement of the central frame.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means is in the form of a pin upstanding relative to the floor rail of the central frame and an elongated slot in said one transverse element through which the pin extends.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein each frame has two telescopic props, and the central frame is mounted for said pivotal movement about an axis disposed centrally between the two props of said central frame.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is in the form of a pin insenable between a part of the central frame and the other of said two transverse elements.

5. A support assembly comprising a. three support frames arranged parallel to one another, each frame being composed of a roof bar, a resilient floor rail, and a number of telescopic props arranged, between the roof bar and the floor rail, b. two hydraulic piston and cylinder shifting units each having one of its relatively displaceable parts connected to the central frame and the other of its relatively displaceable parts connected to one of the outer frames so as to be capable of effecting relative displacement between the central frame and the outer frames,

c. two resilient transverse elements connected between the cylinders of the shifting units,

d. a pivot pin extending between the floor rail of said central frame and one of said transverse elements to allow pivotal movement of said central frame relative to the outer frames, 7

e. one or more piston and cylinder units arranged to effect said pivotal movement of the central frame and f. a locking pin insertable between the central frame and the other of said transverse element to prevent said pivotal movement of the central frame. 

1. A mine support assembly comprising: a. three separate support frames arranged parallel to one another, each frame being composed of a roof bar, a resilient floor rail and a number of telescopic props arranged between the roof bar and the floor rail; b. two hydraulic piston and cylinder shifting units for effecting relative displacement between the frames, each unit having a cylinder connected to the central frame and a piston rod extending outwardly from each end of the cylinder; c. resilient plates connected between the ends of the piston rods and the outer frames; d. two resilient transverse elements connected between the cylinders of the shifting units to form a constructional unit therewith; e. pivoting means operatively disPosed between the floor rail of said central frame and one of said transverse elements to allow pivotal movement between the central frame and the outer frames; f. at least one hydraulic means arranged to effect said pivotal movement of the central frame; and g. detachable locking means insertable between the central frame and the other of said transverse elements to prevent said pivotal movement of the central frame.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting means is in the form of a pin upstanding relative to the floor rail of the central frame and an elongated slot in said one transverse element through which the pin extends.
 3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein each frame has two telescopic props, and the central frame is mounted for said pivotal movement about an axis disposed centrally between the two props of said central frame.
 4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is in the form of a pin insertable between a part of the central frame and the other of said two transverse elements.
 5. A support assembly comprising a. three support frames arranged parallel to one another, each frame being composed of a roof bar, a resilient floor rail, and a number of telescopic props arranged, between the roof bar and the floor rail, b. two hydraulic piston and cylinder shifting units each having one of its relatively displaceable parts connected to the central frame and the other of its relatively displaceable parts connected to one of the outer frames so as to be capable of effecting relative displacement between the central frame and the outer frames, c. two resilient transverse elements connected between the cylinders of the shifting units, d. a pivot pin extending between the floor rail of said central frame and one of said transverse elements to allow pivotal movement of said central frame relative to the outer frames, e. one or more piston and cylinder units arranged to effect said pivotal movement of the central frame and f. a locking pin insertable between the central frame and the other of said transverse element to prevent said pivotal movement of the central frame. 